American coach Jesse Marsch told CBS Sports that Chris Richards' talents are best used in the defense, and not in the midfield.
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Marsch says Richards should not play in midfield for USMNTChelsea exploited lack of mobilityReveals he's better fit in defense for BerhalterWHAT HAPPENED?
On the CBS Sports podcast , Marsch revealed to co-hosts and ex-USMNT stars Charlie Davies and Jimmy Conrad that despite his positive performances of late, he does not believe that Richards in the midfield benefits the USMNT. The ex-Leeds boss revealed that the best "skills" the ex-Bayern man has can be put to best use in the defense.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT MARSCH SAID
"So, what do you get from Chris Richards when he plays in it? Well you get responsibility defensively, he'll do exactly what he needs to do. He'll try to shift and be tactically in the right position. With the ball he'll play simple and just make the next play and he just tries to make the game simple for him and his team-mates and just be a connector," he said.
"However, I really don't think it's the best use of his skills. Obviously. Now he's started six games in a row in the Premier League. This is the best thing to say: the more games that Chris Richards gets, the better it is for his development, the better it is for his overall game and and that can also benefit the national team.
"However, what you see from him is he's not so mobile and quick on the turn in tight spaces. It's not so easy for him to now deal with crafty,speedy, quick little midfielders. So they shift away from him when he's the only six in there if he moves. Out of that space. There's a big gap in the midfield and that's what Chelsea found a lot in this match. They would put little combinations together they find a way to spin around Chris Richards, putting together a little combination and he would be out of the play and they were going at the backline of Crystal Palace."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Richards has moved into a midfield role for Palace in recent weeks, with Roy Hodgson implementing him in a manner that sees him playing as a deep-lying six. He's taken the role up incredibly well, with USMNT fans on social media now asking Gregg Berhalter to play him there on the international stage. Marsch, however, doesn't see that as an option for the U.S. and shared how Chelsea exploited it in their 2-1 victory midweek.
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MARSCH AND RICHARDS
The ex-Leeds boss is currently living in Italy while waiting for his next coaching job, while Palace are back in action at the weekend against Brentford. Richards has played in midfield for Palace for five-straight games, including a top performance against Chelsea midweek.